Quest for a Championship

When I was asked to write something about winning the championship, I was humbled.  After all, who am I to tell people how to win a championship?  If I could win a championship, then I believe there are 8 to 10 other drivers in our class that could do the same. 

I tell my kids that they can have anything they desire as long as they are willing to do whatever it takes to obtain it.  I decided that when building my car that I would do whatever it took (short of cheating---others might disagreeJ) to have a winning car.

When I built my car for the 2005 season, it was in anticipation of going for the championship in 2006.  I knew then that I had a lot to learn in my first full year racing and that 2006 would be the year that I would really push.  I had the desire to win.

Even before my car ever hit the track, anything we did was dedicated to getting faster and running up front.  I had the help and support of my teammate, Gary Bockman.  Just hanging around with him makes you faster!

Uncle Pat McFall at FMR was also a great coach and there is nobody better at setting up a race car. My son, Sam, 17, and Kyle Keenan, 16, were at every race to do whatever it took to maintain the car. And last, but not least, the support of my wife and family, including my Dad who made every race, really helped to give me that mental edge and confidence I needed to win.

Throughout the season I focused on several keys that I believed really helped me.  These included car prep, physical fitness, tire strategy, mental preparedness and continued improvement.  It also helps to have a nemesis...

Car prep: It’s really important for me to have the car completely ready to race before we arrive at the track.  This allows me to focus more on driving.

Physical Fitness:  I follow an exercise regime that keeps me in shape so that I can maintain my focus for the entire race without being fatigued.

Tire strategy: $$ no secrets here.  You have to have good tires and know what they are doing to keep them under you.

Mental Preparedness:  I read many books on racing and personal coaching. I watched racing videos over and over and over again. And most importantly I believed in myself that I could do whatever I needed to win. 

Continued Improvement:  My guys at work got me a hat that has written on it “I’ll never be satisfied” and they are right.  I can always learn and I strive to continue to be just a little bit better. 

2006 was a great year full of good racing and fond memories.  I am looking forward to 2007 being even better.

Will Schrader #41

p.s. Remember, “Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.”

Editors Note: I am trying to sort out what the author means by “short of cheating” - mostly to make sure that it wasn’t a typo of “sort of cheating”…